Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-02-24
BATHS FOR THE MASSES.
APLAcE WHERE THE POOR MAY
Battle At SLIGHT EXPENSE.

EDOH-A MOuCt IL A-NCAy
Way-Generous Offer.
A wealthy Michigan lumberman, inspired
hy purely humanitarian motives, has started
20 do for the poor of Chicago what the city
should have done long ago. he is not even
a resident of the city and has no interests
here beyond praiseworthy desire to benefit
mankind. His name is Charles F. Ruggles
and his home in Manistee, Mich, where he
has built up a great numbering industry and
sccumulted property that aggregates some
thing like s., ZOO, ,O00 Mr.. Ruggles is bach
elor and spends good deal Of his time and
money in performing charitable acts His
net whim, and one that has won him the
reputation of being q mild sort Of crank, IS
that the public ought to be induced to take
freouent baths Summer and winter he
takes bath regularly every morning, and
be points with pride to the fact that he has
never known a sick day in his life. This he
sttriutes entirely to cleansing his skin from
impurities.
One day last summer while in Chicago he
noticed that great many persons whom he
met on the streets and in the horse cars were
personally very dirty. On making inquiries
he found That s5 cents was the lowest price at
which person could obtain bath, so he
determined to establish a bath house here
where the prices would be within reach Of
even the poorest. 1t did not take long to get
this project started, and he began by leasing
the first floor and basement of a large brick
building on west Madison street This local
ftv was well selected as being the most ac-
cessible from all parts of the city. 1t cost
nearly $4,000 to fit the place up, as no
money was spared in making it both com
Portable and attractive. Aug. 81 the baths
were opened 10 the public at prices ranging
from to 10 cents. Mr.. Ruggles in estab-
fishing these prices had no idea that the place
could be made self sustaining the first year
that it was in operation, and he counted on
the city TO help him out by furnishing free
water. His first move in this direction met
with no end of opposition Mr.. Ruggles
consulted an attorney and was told that any
charitable institution, Endorsed by two tax
payers, was entitled to receive water from
ths city free of charge, and he has now
made an open appeal to the mayor.
ANY one who visits the place and sees the
accommodations that are furnished for
mere trihing consideration can but admit
that it is charitable institution of the high
est order and one that is entitled to public
consideration. On entering one steps into
neat Office tastefully furnished and separated
from the rest of the establishment by a wire
screen On the left is the cashiers desk
where woman appointed by the Women's
Christian Temperance union presidss. If
you want bath you present your money
and the cashier hands out ticket on which
is printed the number of the room you are
to occupy and the length of time you are
permitted to remain. This ticket is taken
at the gate by one of the porters who con-
ducts you to the room, shows you how to
operate the bath, and gives you any atten-
ton that may be required. When the ticket
is given out the cashier jots down the num-
Der of the room on a time sheet and when the
bather closes the door of his apartment the
fact is known in the Office by means Of an
electric annunciator similar to those used In
hotels. Time is then taken and noted on the
sheet under the number of the room. The
batber is permitted to remain twenty minutes,
and if there is no one waiting he can stay as
long as he desires. If the room is wanted for
another the cashier touches an electric button
when the allotted time has expired and this
rings bell in the room, informing the bather
that he must dress.
The bath rooms, forty y-four in number, are
ranged in two tiers and in double rows. In
five feet six inches long and five feet wide
and of sufficient height to accommodate the
tallest persons They are divided into ex-
elusive apartments by pine partitions of hard
oil finish Not speck of dirt can be seen
on the woodwork, which is carefully scrubbed
every night. In these rooms is a metal tub,
lined with porcelain and with faucets for
hot and cold water. Printed rules, which
ere by no means stringent are placed on the
walls of each compartment, and there are
also directions for manipulating the fixtures.
Ventilators connecting with high shaft are
placed in each room to carry off the steam
and heat, so that the temperature never
varies, while the atmosphere is at all times
healthful and pleasant. There are towel
racks, brushes, shampoo bottles, a folding
chair, foot drains, hooks on which to hang
clothing, and in fact all the appurtenances
necessary in fitting up first class modern
bath room These baths are furnished for
10 cents each, and reduction of cents is
allowed to those who bring their own towels.
An iron staircase leads to the upper tier,
which contains twenty rooms. These
are fitted up IN q similar manner to the
rooms in the lower tier only they are some
what smaller, and instead of tub have a
large shower fixture. The shower baths
cost but cents, or cents if the bather brings
towels. The bather undresses, and after
drawing rubber curtain in front of him to
protect his clothing from being splashed he
stands on drain under the fixture and turns
on shower of hot and cold water. The
shower and temperature of the water are
regulated by the bather himself.
In the rooms set apart for women are large
mirrors with combs and brushes, but the men
after dressing descend to the basement,
where large toilet room is fitted up, and
when their toilet is completed they can reach
the street without returning to the Office In
going out they pass through large barber
shop, which is handsomely fitted up, and
where a shave can be obtained for 10 cents.
This is part of the establishment. When the
bather leaves his room an indicator drops
down over the door, showing that the room
is in disorder. One of the porters at once
enters and gives it a thorough scrubbing.
II is then ready for another occupant.
Having established the baths and demon
sixated beyond question their importance and
value, Mr. Ruggles now offers to donate the
plant to the city if the city will agree to
maintain the present low prices and devote
whatever income may hereafter be derived
to enlarging the establishment and extend
ing its usefulness. Chicago Tribune.
victims of the Smallpox.
1t may be remembered that shortly after
Fort Sumter was fired upon, the English
wrote over to the Confederates, stating that
a new breech loading cannon had lately
been invented in England, which would
doubtless be of great service to the south in
picking off northern leaders. England was
asksA to send over all the guns of this make
that had been manufactured, and with them
the inventors. As it happened, only four
such cannon had been cast. These were
shipped to America, and the Confederates
were seeking TO make improvements on
them with view to rendering them more
effective, when our troops came upon them
in the neighborhood of Macon, Ga. What
was to be done? 1t would never do to have
these cannon fall into northern hands, as in
that case the tables would be reversed and
the Confederates would suffer. Still, there
were no means of getting them away.
But a bright thought came. The Con-
federate troops dug four graves and buried
the cannon. Over each grave headboard
was erected, bearing a fictitious name, and
labeled 'died of smallpox" Surely no one
,rorld ffink of axbur.i,,er the brd.y of q mar,